September 10, 2013

Moda Blog Hop: Day 5

Welcome to my day of the Moda Fabrics "Size Matters" blog hop! Today i'm posting alongside Barb and Mary of Me and My Sister Designs. I'm sure they have some laughs awaiting you so please be sure to hop on over to their blog too.

The theme for the Moda Schoolhouse at Quilt Market last spring was "Size Matters" and we were each given a quilt block design to explore with regard to scale. What a fun challenge! I don't know if the block i was given has an official "name", but here it is along with a link to the free pattern download.

When i first looked at this block after seeing some of the others, i thought, "humph, that's a pretty boring looking little thing." But i very quickly learned that looks can be deceiving! We'll get back to that in a minute...

So, i thought about the way size and scale play with our perception. Sometimes big things definitely draw our attention because, well, they're BIG! This sculpture, "Untitled" by Anish Kapoor was irresistible to me for just that reason. This big intriguing shiny metal disc got me to walk closer to it and then...

...it revealed all sorts of surprising little things to me.

Both vantage points were totally unique. Pretty neat, huh?

And then there's this nice looking red door. I love when people paint doors different colors and i happen to like this rosy shade of red. Nice details too. Looks like a regular door, right?

Think again!

Fun, huh? You can see how something that's very familiar can change significantly depending on our perspective...and the scale relative to other familiar things.

And then there's composition. You have to figure out how to arrange everything and what you're going to focus on. Take this cat for example. Pete and i were taking an evening stroll when we crossed in front of its window. In this first photo, the cat is only a small part of the bigger scene...so there's more of a story to tell because you get a little more visual information that enables your imagination to wander.

Look how much the "story" changes after Pete took a few steps closer. Now it's pretty much all about that adorable fluffy cat! Get it?

There's a wonderful picture book by Istvan Banyai called Zoom. It really plays around with all these ideas of perception/scale/zooming in/zooming out/focus etc. Someone made a video of it that you may want to watch — but you might want to turn the volume off...it's just as good without the sound. I guess in a nutshell, if you start thinking of every visual frame as a potential quilt...there’s no end to your imagination or the possibilities!

Which brings me back to my boring little block. Let's have a look at it again, shall we?

It's four half-square triangles. That's it. It kind of reminded me of a paper fortune teller from my childhood or like one of the great pyramids seen from 30,000 feet! I started to play around and before i knew it, constellations of designs and patterns were appearing before my eyes with each turn. First, i just wanted to see what this block did if i took it and repeated it as is:

Aha! I always wondered how that spinning pinwheelie quilt pattern was made! But then i thought i needed something to focus on and some contrast in scale, so i made a border for each block at 1/2 scale. When they came together they looked like this:

Ok, i'm hooked! Next, i made one of those whole blocks with border at 1/2 scale and doubled the size of the biggest one. It looked like this:

Then i went back to that original block and started rotating it around a few times and landed on this:

So...i got out some fabric and started to make the blocks using my newest fabric collection, Sunnyside (which should be shipping any day now! yippee!). Instead of just opting for a light and dark colored fabric, i threw in a mid-tone as well just to see how that changed things. Here's what that looked like:

And then here's how the whole block went together:

and then i just couldn't stop! I flipped the darks and this happened:

and then this!

And yes, before i knew it, i was head-over-heels for this little block and well on my way to making it into a whole quilt. Photos to come...soon.

Oh, and one other way that "Size Matters" is in the size of the pile of fabric! And we're giving away a gigantic Fat Quarter Bundle of Sunnyside! Thank you, Moda! Uh, i don't have a photo of the actual FQB, but here's a look at the whole collection.

Your post was fascinating and I look forward to see the quilt that comes of your new love affair with your "little block"!! Also absolutely love your fabrics line-the colors are great!! Thanks for the opportunity !!

The fabrics and the last block that is destined for a complete quilt are so imaginative.and forward-thinking. Love the name "Sunnyside" collection name too. The issue of how zooming in and out changes perception a topic of long-time interest. I once had the opportunity to identify every botanical specimen in a 3-square foot patch of land in the Gol Kopjes in Tanzania. It was an entire world of immense variety all in 3-square feet. Very much like a quilt. Brilliant post Kate! Nancy Rossi nrossi779@gmail.com

Wow! I love how just a simple change in lights and darks can affect the whole look of a block! I can't wait to see Sunnyside on the shelf at my LQS, but it would totally make my year to get my little hands on it sooner! :-)

With so many stressful things happening to myself and others around me recently I reckon boring can sometimes be a good thing. That "boring" block can become very interesting , as you have shown us. Thanks for sharing some lovely pics and for the opportunity to win those yummy fabrics.

Loved the lesson on perspective. The manipulation of the block really brought it to life. I loved your addition of color and fabric. It made it more interesting. Thanks for the opportunity to have some beautiful fabric.

Timing is a funny thing. I've been thinking about making a wall-hanging, making several versions of a single block, shaking it up by varying colors/shades, etc. Like many of my bursts of inspiration, that one has been on the back burner (or "the long finger", as my Irish friends say) but you've reminded me of how much fun it will be to get out the fabric and PLAY!

Wow! I love how you played with that "boring little block" and made SO MANY wonderful patterns! It is so amazing how both color and size can change the look of something! Your new Sunnyside is fantastic (love the name also!) Thanks for the chance to win!

Wow, thanks for showing us a whole new way to look at the simple hst block. I love the different designs you came up with. Can't wait to see your finished quilt from these blocks. Thanks for a great bloghop and giveaway.

Amazing how color placement plays such significance even with a simple block. Your fabrics lines are some of my favorites, I'm hoarding (and still accumulating) Good Fortune. ;-> Thank you for mentioning, the up coming date, it's been heavy on my mind lately. It's been so busy the last week, with the start of high school, I've lost track of time and dates. I didn't realize it's tomorrow. Bless all who were involved.

Wow Kate! You took a block that I might ignore playing with as it really does look rather boring and made it very cool! I really love the one which you took the whole blocks and added a border at half scale, then doubled the size of the biggest block. Thank you for showing us the possibilities with that one little block and how awesome they can be made into a larger idea.

This is one of the best perspectives on size period. I can't believe how changing up & turning this block changes. It becomes a kaleidoscope. I will never look at a simple block the same way. That video was fascinating also. This is my favorite line so far of yours, and love the name.

I think quilters have the biggest hearts and have the most respect for people. Quilters are there for any one that needs help and the first to give. I know because 2 years ago I found out I have MS. The support I have got from other quilters has been just great. I don’t think I would have got this far if it was not for quilting having worked for 29 years and always had something going on and then it just stops . Now I make quilts for kids and adults that are sick and have no one to care about them.

You really came up with some wonderful creations from one block. I know now before I ever sew blocks together I am going to play with them and see what I come up with. You make it sound so much fun. Thanks for sharing

Love how you showed us that perspective always changes how we see things! Not only in our quilting, but in our lives! May we always remember those who lost their lives on this day and be thankful for those who will fight for our freedom!

What a fun and exciting block to play around with. You're so right - size matters. Thank you for being a part of Size Matters Blog Hop and this free pattern to enjoy and use. Hoping to become a winner of this new beautiful line by Sunnyside and seeing a squishy package in my mailbox.

I am in love with this line. A dear friend of mine lost her beach home in a Hurricane and I would love to make her a quilt with these if I win. Thanks for the free pattern, and for the opportunity to win these gorgeous fabrics.

Love how changing things around changes whole look...cannot wait to see whole quilt. I found same thing with your Friendship Block...I just made a quilt using it and with each fabric combo it changed the look dramatically. Thanks for the chance to win your gorgeous fabric.!

Hello, Kate!! I love how you demonstrated the concept of "Size" and the visual changes the twisting of your block created. What a great color scheme in "Sunnyside"--I'm looking forward to using the yellow and orange!

What a thought provoking blog, thank you! I love your new fabric line and am excited at the prospect of working with it. Thank you for remembering all those we lost on 9/11, that day will live forever in my heart and mind.